Method for inserting and holding closure plugs



w. D. HAAS Filed Oct. 12, 1954 Q QO C) INVENTOR "6/99!" 2 Haas METHODFOR INSERTING AND HOLDING CLOSURE PLUGS Nov. 29, 1938.

Patented Nov. 29, 1938 UNITED STATES METHOD FOR INSERTING AND HOLDINGCLOSURE PLUGS Walter D. Haas, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor toBaldwin-Southwark Corporation, a corporation of Delaware ApplicationOctober 12, 1934, Seria'l No. 748,150

3 Claims. (Cl. 29-148) This invention relates generally to an improvedmethod for inserting and holding closure plugs in passages of platensfor hydrwlic press work and especially steam platens, although theinvention is applicable to passages formed in various other types ofequipment.

It is one object of my invention to provide an improved method forseating a closure plug of a passage and at the same time causing aportion of the body member in which the passage is formed to becontinuously turned over on the plug to its seating position and ofsimultaneously. upsetting the body member and turning it over on themarginal edge of the closure plug.

Other objects and advantages will be more apparent to those skilled inthe art from the following description of the accompanying drawing inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of one form of member,specifically asteam platen, with which my invention is adapted to beused in seating and holding closure plugs for the steam passages; I

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a platen closure plug and my improved toolshowing the initial inserting operation;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the plug inserted just tothe point where the upsetting of the platen around the marginal edges ofthe plug takes place and before the plug has reached its seat;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figs. 2 and 3 showing the plug entirelyseated and the surrounding edges of the platen completely upset andturned over the-marginal edges of the plug.

I have illustrated my improved method in connection with a platen lalthough the invention is of course applicable to any other suitablemember having passages in which plugs are tightly held to their seat toprovide a leakproof closure- It is especially necessary to provide sucha closure in steam platens for hydraulic presses as the usual drilledpassages 2 are alternately heated and cooled by being subjected to steamduring the molding operation of various plastic products and then beingcooled by passing cold water or any other suitable chilling mediumthrough the passages 2. Y

The steam platen usually has a relatively narrow thickness although itswidth and length is usually several feet. The parallel passages 2 aredrilled through the platen and the outer end of each passage is providedwith a circular recess 3 preferably of cylindrical form, although thesame may be of any other shape complementary to the shape of a closureplug 4. However, it will be considered for purposes of specificillustration herein that recess 3 and plug 4 have plain cylindricalsurfaces and that a shouldered seat 5 is disposed normal to the axis ofthe recess. Preferably a centering or guiding recess 6 is formed in theplug.

The apparatus for inserting and upsetting the body to hold the plug isshown specifically in the form of a tool generally indicated at 8. Theworking end of the tool has a cylindrical plug engaging portion apreferably of slightly smaller diameter than that of plug 4 while acylindrical centering tip it projects from portion 9. Disposedconcentrically of the plug engaging portion 91s an upsetting flange iiwhose base is preferably slightly spaced as indicated at i2 from theperiphery of element 9. This upsetting provide a lower cutting edge it.The tool has a substantial body portion it which may be provided with ahandle 55 for suitably positioning the tool with respect to the plug andto any suitable power means for moving the tool in an axial direction.Such power means maybe hydraulic or mechanical and adapted .toapplypreferably a continuous axial force until the plug is fully drivenhome.

Operationine plug is initially inserted in recess 3 as shown in Fig. 2,the plug and recess having preferably a close fit to provide or aid increating an adequate seal in combination with the seating and sealingsurface 5. .The tool is positioned as shown in Fig. 2 and pressure isapplied in the direction of arrow at, thereby causing the tool to forcethe plug inwardly to the 'fiange is preierablyof V-shape as shown so asto position shown in Fig. 3. In this position it will accompanied asimultaneous upsetting of the platen i as generally indicated at" andturning of the upset portion over the marginal edge It of the plug. Thisupsetting and turningover is a progressive operation which occurssimultaneously with each increment of inward movement of the plug. Hencethe instant that the plug is driven hard on to its seat 5, the upsetmaterial will be instantaneously operative to firmly hold the sameagainst the seat.

As a result of the foregoing structure and mode of operation, it is seenthat the plug is tightly held and sealed in position and that this isaccomplished with minimum efiortandflin a single operation, thusproviding a very eflective seal in an economical manner.

It will of course be understood that various changes in details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts may be made by thoseskilled in theart without departing from the spirit or the invention 'as set forth inthe appended claims.

I claim: I

1. The method of seating and holding a closure plug in a recess formedin a member, consisting in driving a plug \into the recess andsimultaneously engaging the external surface of the member immediatelysurrounding the recess and caus-' ing said engaged portion to be upsetand turned over the marginal edge of the plug during progressive andcomplete bodily axial movement thereof.

2. The methodo! seating and holding a closure plug ina recess formed ina member, consisting 1 in driving a plug into the recessandsimultaneously engaging the external surface of the mem- .berimmediately surrounding the recess and 3. The method of seating andholding a closure plug in a recess formed in a member, consisting indriving a plug into the recess with a tool and simultaneously engagingthe external surface or the member immediately surrounding the recessand causing said engaged portion to be upset and turned over themarginal edge of the plug, said upsettingand turning over operationsbeing continuous with the plug movement until the plug is driven homeagainst a seat, the tool being positively mairtained in coaxialalignment directly with the plug during the seating and g upsettingoperation v WALTERD. HAAS.

